Free courthouse 'boutique' helps defendants look their best at trial
A little-known room in a Texas criminal courthouse helps defendants put their best-dressed foot forward at trial.
Stocked with donated clothes, some with designer labels, the so-called “boutique” has been run by the Dallas County Public Defender’s office for about 12 years. It outfits those who don’t have family to bring them clothing for court or may not even own anything appropriate. Private defense lawyers can select clothing there for clients, too, as long as the items are dry-cleaned and returned after the trial concludes, the Dallas Morning News (sub. req.) reports.
While outfits put together by defense lawyers vary in the degree of stylishness achieved, all are appropriate for court and a huge improvement over a jail jumpsuit, defense lawyers say. And some are spectacular.
Assistant public defender Rick Jordan is the unofficial organizer of the boutique. He recalls a woman who entered the courtroom in a stunning calf-length donated navy dress.
“When she walked out of the holdover, she looked like she was walking out of Neiman Marcus,” he told the newspaper.
“She got found not guilty, too.”
